Chapter 2-Are You Happy Now?
Hermione could not see past the tears that were blinding her vision. She looked around the hallway not knowing which way she needed to go. Come to think of it, she had no idea how she had gotten to Zachary's apartment in the first place. After a few moments it finally dawned on her that she was a witch and she apparated here. A quick pop and she was out of there.
She turned the doorknob and stumbled into her flat. It was a miracle that she was even able to support herself as she was shaking violently. Her sobs wracked her whole body and she couldn't take it anymore before she just sat down on the ground, unable to comprehend what had happened.
Harry was in his bedroom lying on his bed trying to muddle his way through his confused emotions. He then heard the door slamming and went out wondering who it was. Ron had left while they had been gone shopping to go visit his family for the weekend. When he had opened his door, he was greeted by the sight of Hermione crouched on the ground crying hysterically. Instantly, he was filled with concern for his friend and ran over to her and sat down by her.
"What happened Hermione?" Hermione was unable to answer, for she was crying so hard. Harry shushed her soothingly and rubbed the small of her back.
Finally Hermione was able to stop crying long enough to speak, "I found Zachary sleeping with two other women." Hearing those words being spoken made her break out into tears again.
Harry felt anger to start coursing through him causing his blood to boil. He was seeing red in a rage of fury. He stood up and grabbed his wand in a second flat and would have headed over to Zachary for revenge if Hermione's meek, trembling voice had not been heard.
"Harry, don't please. I need you here with me," Hermione broke out into sobs once again.
Harry could not turn Hermione down and his anger evaporated as he felt pity and love for Hermione. Without hesitation, Harry turned around towards Hermione and with ease he scooped Hermione up into his arms and took her to the couch. He sat down on the couch with Hermione still in his arms. He hugged her tightly and rocked her back and forth as she cried many tears.
Harry felt helpless. He felt that he could not ease the pain that she was going through. He knew she must be devastated because only a few hours earlier she had told him that she had some really strong feelings for Zachary.
"I thought I loved him. I can't believe I let myself believe that he could love me." Hermione's tears had subsided allowing herself to talk.
"You are not a fool for thinking that. He is a fool for letting such an amazing person go," Harry answered truthfully.
"You are just trying to make me feel better," Hermione moaned into his shirt.
Harry tilted her face so she was looking in his eyes. "I would never lie to you Hermione."
That only made her start to cry and again as she leaned her head on his chest. "I don't know why I led myself to believe that our relationship was perfect."
"Hermione, you can't put the blame on yourself. The blame falls solely on that creep," Harry told her.
"But, there must have been a reason why he had to go have sex with other women. I mean I told him that I wanted to wait until marriage and I thought he was cool with that."
"Hermione, there is a simple reason as to why he would do this, he is a bastard that doesn't deserve to live." Harry was starting to get all steamed up again. He had to tell himself to take in deep breaths to calm himself down.
"I guess, I just have seen this happen in movies and books, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would happen to me."
"And it shouldn't have. I am so sorry that it did. I knew there was something about him that I didn't trust. I should have known to trust my instincts. They have never failed me before." Harry now was getting angry at himself.
"Now, Harry this wasn't your fault. You were just trying to be a supportive friend which I needed and still need." Hermione once again started crying softly as she hugged herself, trying to stop her shivering.
"You are freezing Hermione. Why don't you go and change into something more comfortable?" Harry suggested, his voice full of concern for his friend. He saw her skepticism etched on her face. "I will be right out here waiting for you."
Hermione thought this was a good idea so she disappeared into her room to take off the make up and let her hair down. She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and one of Harry's old sweatshirts she had kept since it was so comfortable and warm.
Sticking to his word, Harry was waiting for her right outside her bedroom door. He put an arm around her and ushered her into his bedroom. She looked up into his face, confused as to what they were doing.
"I am not letting you out of my sight tonight," Harry explained to her wordless questions. He pulled the heavy blankets back and laid her down. He then laid down right behind her and pulled the covers over them.
Harry pulled Hermione close to him and held her while she still cried unspent tears. Knowing that there not much he could do to comfort her, so he just tried to sooth the pain away in any way possible by whispering words of comfort into her ear.
"I will never leave your side no matter what comes. I will always be here whenever you need me."
Hermione was a little skeptical of these words and whispered softly back, "Always is an awfully long time."
"Always will I be here to comfort you and soothe your sorrows," Harry reiterated, making sure to annunciate the `always' clearly. He then leaned forward and kissed her cheek and went back to just holding her close until they both fell into peaceful sleep.
***********a week later***********
"Hermione, if you are going to go up there, then you bloody hell better not be singing another hopeless tragic songs. You need to sing something knew. I mean we all know you are sad, but there are other emotions out there besides depression. You need to strike new ground," Harry spoke with conviction.
Hermione just stared at Harry from across the table, unsure if what he was saying was true.
Ron, who was sitting next to Harry, spoke up, "He is correct you know. God knows we love you to death and understand this is a really hard on you, but you are not making it easy for you to move on, which you need to do. Throw something else into the mix is all we are saying."
Hermione understood where they were coming from. She had been pretty depressed this week and showed it by every time they were singing karaoke she would choose some dreary ballad about broken hearts. Maybe she should try something different. She wracked her brain for a good song and finally came up with what she knew would be perfect. Getting up the courage, she took a large swig of her drink and slammed it back onto the table. She then stood up and headed up to the mike.
Harry and Ron started clapping and cheering Hermione in encouragement. "What do you say, another sappy song?" Ron spoke softly out of the corner of his mouth.
"Probably," Harry agreed before going back to supporting their friend.
They were both were wrong.
While singing the song, Hermione was singing with tons of enthusiasm for what she was saying. She walked across the mini stage and really got into the song, working the crowd. To say the least, Ron and Harry were shocked.
No...Don't just walk away
Pretending everything's ok
and you don't care about me...
Lie...No it's just no use
When all your lies become your truths
and I don't care...yeah
Could you look me in the eye
and tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face?
Or have I been erased?
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?
You...took all there was to take
and Left me with an empty plate
and You don't care about it
and I...Am giving up this game
and Leavin you with all the blame
cause I don't care...
Could you look me in the eye
and tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face?
Or have I been erased?
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?
Did it really have
Everything you're worth
You can't always give
Something you get
You can't run away from yourself
Could you look me in the eyes
and tell me that you're happy now...
C'mon tell it to my face
Or have I been erased?
Are you happy now?
Would you look me in the eye,
Could you look me in the eye,
I have had all that I can take,
And I'm not about to break,
Because I am happy now.
Are you happy now?
As she finished the song, Hermione walked off the stage with a triumphant look on her face. Harry and Ron both had there jaw open wide, shocked that Hermione had been so gutsy. Harry couldn't help to feel proud of her and once again felt the now familiar warm feeling inside of him whenever he thought of Hermione. It was familiar, but still disconcerting. Once again he just shoved that feeling way back so he could enjoy another fun evening with his friends.
"So, what did you think of that?" Hermione asked while sitting down into the booth.
Harry and Ron both looked at each other and then back. "That was bloody fantastic," Ron told her.
"Hermione, that was amazing. You really should sing at places other than the local bar. You have so much talent," Harry told her truthfully.
Hermione blushed at his compliment. "A simple that was good would have done well. Thank you."
Harry held her eyes for a few moments and said softly to her, "I promised I would never lie to you and I was not lying."
Hermione felt her insides melt under his deep gaze. She was starting to get lost in his eyes and she didn't know if she had set out bread crumbs to find her way back.
********later that night********
After the first night of sleeping together, neither had said anything, but had just gotten into the same bed every night. It seemed so natural to them, that they would snuggle close. This time, however, Hermione turned over to face Harry.
"Do you think I will ever find someone who loves me?" Hermione asked, fear in her voice.
"There is no doubt in my mind," Harry answered confidently.
"How do you know that?"
"Because, I can't see you being alone for the rest of your life. You are such a wonderful person, there is no way that no guy will ever fall in love with you. You will find someone who will love you unconditionally and will never ever hurt you."
"But, I am 26 and I don't know anybody that would fall in love with me like that."
"Don't worry, there is someone out there for you," Harry reassured her.
Hermione sighed and decided to drop the subject. She turned over and leaned in close, falling into peaceful sleep.
Harry's mind was going crazy. He wanted ever so badly to tell her that he loved her in that way, but he held himself back. `Wait,' his mind thought. `Did you hear what you were just thinking?'
Another voice in his mind spoke up, "What?'
`You said love, in a romantic sense.'
`Yeah so?'
`Do you really understand what you just said and about who?'
Harry's mind started to think about it more and more and finally it occurred to him like a bolt of lightning. `I love Hermione,' he thought to himself. He truly loved Hermione and the weird thing was it made sense to him. He could see no one else in his future besides Ron and Hermione, and Ron was just a friend and a guy. However, he could see Hermione and him getting married, having children, and growing old together.
The thought of sharing his life with her excited him. He wanted that so badly, but he didn't think that Hermione felt anything like that at all. He couldn't not tell her though. She needed to know. It was only fair and he can't live with knowing everyday.
Ron had a date with Zoë tomorrow, so he would think of some way to tell her tomorrow. Tomorrow. He leaned in close to Hermione and put his face near her hair, taking in her scent. They fit so perfectly together and he never wanted to leave her side. So he snuggled in as close as he could and stayed up as long as he could just enjoying her presence before he himself finally dozed off into peaceful sleep.
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